Hydrotherapy apparatus



J. A. JAWEI'T` HYDROTHERAPY APPARATUS Filed July 9, 1954 IN VEN TOR.Jasepf/ H. Jawezz ATTORNEYS July 23, 1957 Vbathtub in the patients home.

nited States Patent HYDROTHERAPY APPARATUS Joseph A. Jawett, Jamaica,N.`Y.,- assignor, by mesne assignments, 'to Petrometer Corporation, Longisland City, N. Y., acct-poration of N ewiYnrk Application .luly 9,1954,` Seril'No.-442,280

4 Claims. '(Cl. 4-18tl) The present invention relates in general tohydrotherapy apparatus, and, in particular, to a whirlpool bath .whichis especially adapted for home use.

The effectiveness of a whirlpool bath in the treatment of suchconditions as arthritis, neuritis, rheumatic disorders, traumaticinjuries, stiff joints, etc., has been Well established. Due to the factthat many patients lmay require -a whirlpool bath treatment once ortwice ya day over a. period of many months, it is` highly desirable andadvantageous to provide for such treatment in the patients home.Hydrotherapy apparatus which hadheretoforebeen available for home usenecessitated the making of fa permanent installation Y.of the apparatusinthe This required permanent connection to the cutting of theplumbingffixtures and, consequently, was not permitted in many renteddwellings.

-In addition, the permanent attachment fof the hydro- .,therapyapparatus to the bathtub plumbing interfered `with-thenormal useof thebathtub whenit wasfnotdesired to use the `hydrotherapy apparatus.

In View of the foregoing, the primary `object of `the present inventionis the provision of a hydrotherapy appayratus which obviates the variousdisadvantages and objections Vheretofore encountered inthe utilizationof hydrotherapy apparatus in the home.

Another object is the provision of a'hydrotherapy ap- ,paratus which canbe readily installed and'removed :from

a bathtub `without the necessity for any'tools whatsoever `and withoutthe requirement of the services of a plumber or other mechanic.

Another object is the provision of a-hydrotherapyy appa- -ratus havingprovision for an adjustable aeratondevice so as to provide a desiredmixture of'air and water in the apparatus.

Another object is the provision of'a generally simplified means formounting the apparatus voxrthe bottom of the bathtub in such mannerthat-the apparatus may be rigidi- .iedagainst the Water ontletor faucetin the bathtub so as to be maintained'in proper dispositionregar'dlessof the amount of water pressure or the velocity ofthe'watertherethrough.

A `further object is the provision of such a device which, althoughanchored to the bottom of the bathtub hasprovision for the adjustabilitythereof-'for aligning the device with the Water faucet in the bathtub.

A still further object is the provision of a hydrotherapy apparatus ofgenerally simplied construction and design which is eicient in use andwhich is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and sell.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of thepresent-invention will be more fully understood from the followingdescription considered in connection with the accompanying illustrativedrawing.

In the drawing which illustrates the best model presently contemplatedby me of carrying outl the invention:

'Fig -1 is aperspective view of thehydrotherapy apparata-s ofthepresentinvention, as installed in a bathtub;

ice

' FigjZ'is a view in elevation of the hydrotherapy apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, on lan enlarged scale, taken onthe. line3--3 of. Figure 2;

-Figure 4 Vis a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on thev line4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional `View taken on the line S-S-of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line- 6 6 ofFigureZ-and illustrates the adjustabilityof the apparatus for themounting thereof.

Referring now to the drawingin detail, the hydrotherapy apparatus 10comprises the water and -air supply or'conduit means-12, and theanchoring means 14 therefor. As lhere "shown, the'anchoring means 14 isconstituted by an inverted `channel or base bracket lfhavingthelaterally extending flanges or arms 18 and the raisedintermediate'bightportion 20. The bracket 16 is formed of a suitablemetal preferably steel, and the arms 18 there- -of are/provided withdepending rubber suction cups 22 for releasably securing the anchoringmeans 14 to the bottom yor ftoorof a bathtub 24. Centrally thereof, thebight 20 is provided with an aperture 24'having a portion 26 whichdefines a curved seat, the purpose vof which isxhereinafter described indetail.

Thevvater and air supply conduit meanslZ comprises a Water tube'f28,disposed within an airtube 30, a guide Vtube32in registry with the watertube 28,*and a discharge lnozz'le assembly 34 through whichthe water-airmixture Vis discharged,:said components each being formedof a suitablemetalypr'eferably brass.

In order to mount the guide tube, the Water tube and the air tube inassembled irelati'on, provisionis made for a bushing 36 which Vis formedof a suitable metal, preferably brass. As here shown, the bushing 36 isprovided with an upstanding portion38, which defines an apertured seat,Aand with an -44 and a lower seat 46. The upper end of the WaterV tube2S -abuts the lower surface of the rib 42, being secured as by weldingor soldering, in said lower seat 46. A dome Vshaped apertured rubberwasher 48 is seated in the seat 38 of the bushing 36. A guide tube 32extends through the aperture in the washer 4S and the lower end thereofabuts the upper surface of the rib 42, being secured in the seat 44, asby soldering or welding. Consequently, it will be apparent that thelower end of the guide tube 32 is in registry with the upper end of theWater tube 28. Adjacent its upper end, the outer or air tube 3i) isprovided with a plurality of air inlet openings 50. An air shutter 52,preferably formed of brass, is mounted at the upper end of the air tube30, being adjustably rotatably positioned thereon by the knurled headscrew.5`4 which extends through the companion tabs 56 and is engaged bythe nut 53. The shutter :52 is provided with a plurality of air inletopenings 69. It will be apparent that the shutter 52 may be adjustablyrotated on the air tube 30 to and from a position, wherein the openings60 thereof are in registry with the underlying openings 50 for themaximum -admission of air into the tube 30, into a position wherein theshutter completely covers the underlying openings 50 so as to preventthe admission of air into the tube 30. It will be noted that the upperendvof the guide tube `32 projects upwardly from the washer 48 `forinsertion into the faucet-62 of the bathtub, as hereinafter`explained-in' detail.

- 64'in registry with the restricted opening 74 therein.

' 28 are seated in the discharge nozzle assembly 34.' More specifically,said nozzle assembly comprises a casting or discharge nozzle housing 62preferably formed `of brass.

-A chamber 64 isdefined'in thejhousing 62 and, at theupper end oftherchamber, provision is made for .an annular seat 66. v-An aperturedbushing 68, preferably formed of brass,V is seated in the seat V66,being secured in position therein, Vas by soldering or welding.:4 Thebushing 68 is provided with an annular shoulder'7 which defines a seatforethe lower lend ofthe air tube 30, which is suitably secured thereinas by Welding or soldering. VA laterally extending Vdischargepassageway'72 communicates with e the air chamber64, and provisionisYalso made for a constricted opening 74 which extends through the bottom`of the housing 62 from the chamber 64. A iitting 76,

preferably formed of brass, is disposed in the chamber Said tting `isprovided with a side `opening 78 which is in registry with the dischargepassageway 72. A water discharge or'jet nozzle 80 which is of smallerdiameter than the nozzle outlet 72, is Vpress-tit into the fittingaperture 78 and extends into the discharge opening 72 which denes alarge diameter discharge nozzle which surrounds the smaller diameterdischarge or jet nozzle 80, the latter terminating inwardly of the outerend of the discharge Ynozzle 72. At the upper end thereof, the fitting76 is provided with an annular peripheral shoulder 82 which defines aseat'for the bottom end ofthe water tube 28. As best illustrated inFigure 3, the water tube, at its lower end, extends .through the openingin the bushing 68 and is seated on the upper end of the fitting 76,being suitably secured thereto as by weldingror soldering. The reduceddiameter upper end portion 84 of a threadedV stud 86 isthreadedly'engaged in the lower end ofthe iitting 76; It will benotedthat said portion S4 enters the fitting 76 through the aperturedportion 74 of the nozzle housingl 62 to close the lower end of thetting, being secured in position therein by the nut S8.

. An adjusting nut 94B is threadedly engaged on the stud 86. Said nut isprovided with the laterally extending arms 92-92 and with a cup shapedportion 94 which engages the curved seat 26, in the bight of theanchoring means 14. Referring now to Figure 6, it will be noted that thebowl or cup-shaped portion 94 of nut 90, cooperates with the curved seat26 in the anchoring means 14 to constitute a universal joint so that theconduit means 12 can be tilted in any desired direction when Vmounted onthe anchoring means 14, as indicated, for example,

by the full and broken line positions of the stud 86, in

Figure 6. Y

In assembling the hydrotherapy apparatus 1B in a bathtub-such asthat'indicated at 24 in Fig. 1, the anchoring means 14 is rst positionedby means of the suction cups 22 on the floor of the bathtub immediatelybelow the 7 mouth of thel faucet 62 thereof. In theYV event that theoorV of the bathtub is not level, the anchoring means 14 will readilyaccommodate itself to said condition due to the resiliency of thesuction cups 22 thereon. For example, as illustrated in Figure 2, thefull line position of the anchoring means 14 indicates its dispositionon a level bathtub oor and the broken line position thereof indicatesthe. disposition of the anchoring means for a non-level or tiltedbathtub floor, it being readily apparent that the suction cups willsecurely and releasably retain the anchoringfmeans on the bathtub floorin either condition thereof. Water is now permitted to ow into thebathtub until the water reaches a depth of about seven inches, for thehydrotherapy apparatus as now constructed. .This is the depth which isinitially required Vto coverrthe outletV of the nozzle 72 to prevent theWater iet from striking an opposing portion of the bathtub and beingscattered or spattered over the bathroom when the water is initiallyturnedk on, which may occur if there is no water in the bathtub. Afterthe bathtub is lled to the 4 required depth, the water is turned off andthe conduit means 12 is positioned on the anchoring means 14 byinserting Vthe stud 86 into the aperture 26 of the anchoringV The arms92 of the nut 9) are then rotated ink means. a clockwise direction toelevate the conduit means 12 toward the faucet, as illustrated in brokenline in Fig. 2,V

so as to engage the projecting portionV of the guide tube Y 32 to thefaucet mouth and to clamp the latter thereinby y tube 32 and the mouthof the faucet 62 for'the insertion of the guide tube therein. In thisconnection, two sep- Varate adjustments are provided in thefhydrotherapyapparatus to facilitate said engagement of the guide tube in the faucetmouth where either the anchoring means 1,4 or the conduit means 12 isnot accurately aligned with the mouth of the faucet 62. The tirst ofthese'adjustments results from the fact that the anchoring means14 maybe readily rocked in opposite directie-usas required, on the suctioncups 22, as indicated by the arrow heads 96' in Fig. 1. This rockingaction is illustrated in Figure 6, wherein `it will be noted that theanchoring means 14 may be ,readily tilted from its full line position tothe broken line position thereof and it will be understood that theanchoring means may also be tilted in Vthe opposite direction from thatillustrated.- The second adjustment results from the universal jointformed'byv the cup (shaped. portion 94 of the nut 90 and the curved seat26. vThis permits the conduit means 12 to Vbe tilted in any direction,asmay be required, relative tothe anchoring means 14 event that theYguide tube 32 is not exactly aligned'with the mouth of the faucet 62,Vthe guide tube may nevertheless be clamped in position in the faucetmouth through the tilting or rocking adjustment of the anchoring means14 and,'if required, by the tilting of the conduit means 12 relative tothe anchoring means 14. It will be understood that when the stud 86 isinitially inserted into the anchoring means 14, the nozzle assembly 34is pointed in a predetermined or desired direction in which it isdesired to direct the jet or stream of water and the previouslydescribed universal joint facilitates the adjustment of the nozzle inthe desired direction.

With the washer 48 tightly clamped in the mouth of the faucet 62 andwith the nozzle assembly 34 adjusted to direct the stream of water inthe desired direction, the hydrotherapy apparatus is now assembled forthe administration of a whirlpool bath treatment. The temperature of thewater may be regulated by adjustment of the hot and cold water faucets93-98 in the usual manner. The water pressure may also be adjustedthrough the manipulation of the faucets 98. In this connection, it willbe noted that the inner diameter of the tting 76 is smaller than theinner diameter of the water tube 28 so asto provide a restrictedpassageway and a resultant increase of water pressure and, further, thatthe diameter of the jet tube 80 is smaller than the inner diameter ofthe iitting 76, so that the water will issue from the jet tube 84) inthe form of a high pressure stream or jet of water. The jet of waterflowing through and out of the larger Vnozzle 72 will provide a flow ofair by suction into the V with the water may be readily regulated oradjusted by ro- Plumb-line accuracy is K not required in the originalalignment between the guideV tation of the air shutter 52 on the watertube 30 for opening or covering the air inlet openings 50 therein, asmay be desired. The jet may be readily discontinued, as or when desired,by manipulation of the faucets 98 to discontinue the supply of water tothe hydrotherapy apparatus. The apparatus may then be readilydisassembled by rotation of the arms 92 in a counterclockwise directionto release the conduit'means from clamping engagement with the faucet62. The conduit means is then removed from the anchor member 16 and thelatter is removed from the bathtub.

In view of the foregoing, it will be apparent that there is provided,pursuant to the present invention, a hydrotherapy apparatus which isespecially adapted for home use, which requires no permanent plumbingconnections or interference with existing plumbing lines, which may bereadily attached and removed from a bathtub so as not to interfere withthe normal use thereof when required, and which can be simply operatedby the patient in his own home. However, it will be understood that theapparatus of the present invention is not limited to home use but may beused to great advantage in doctors oflices, hospitals and clinics.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiments of myinvention, it will be understood that various changes may be made in thepresent invention without departing from the underlying idea orprinciples of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is:

1. Anchor means for mounting hydrotherapy apparatus to a bathtub or thelike, said means comprising an inverted channel member provided withlaterally extending flanges and a bight portion intermediate saidiianges and spaced upwardly therefrom, said flanges being provided withdepending suction means for securement to the bathtub, and said bightportion having an apertured portion for mounting the hydrotherapyapparatus to be anchored by said means to the bathtub.

2. Portable hydrotherapy apparatus, comprising water pipe means adaptedto releasably engage a bathtub faucet, means for releasably anchoringsaid pipe means against said faucet to oppose the pressure of thewateriiow therefrom, and discharge nozzle means provided on said pipemeans to cause the forceful ejection of a stream of water therefrom,said anchoring means comprising any inverted channel member providedwith laterally extending ilanges and a bight portion intermediate saidanges and yspaced upwardly therefrom, said flanges being provided withdepending suction means for securement to the bathtub, and said bightportion having an aperture defined therein, said pipe means having athreaded member at the lower end thereof freely movable in saidaperture, and a nut threaded on said member and bearing against theupper surface of said bight portion, whereby rotation of said nut onsaid threaded member will elevate said pipe means to clamp the upper endthereof in lsaid faucet.

3. Hydrotherapy apparatus for a bathtub or the like, said apparatuscomprising an anchor member for securement to the bottom of the bathtub,and water conduit means having jet discharge nozzle means and adapted tobe mounted by said anchor member for clamping engagement with thebathtub faucet, said conduit means comprising a guide tube and a watertube in registry therewith, a bushing mounting a resilient washer, saidtubes being seated in said bushing with the upper end of said guide tubeprojecting therefrom, a nozzle housing mounting said jet discharge meansin c-ommunication with said water tube, and an air inlet tubeencompassing said water tube, the upper end of said air tube beingengaged with said bushing, said nozzle housing defining an air chamber,the lower end of said air tube being in communication with said chamber,and said nozzle housing having a discharge portion into which said jetmeans extends, said discharge portion being in communication with saidair chamber, whereby to aerate the water owing from said jet meansthrough said discharge opening.

4. Hydrotherapy apparatus for a bathtub or the like, comprising conduitmeans including a water conduit adapted for fluid communication with awater faucet and an air conduit surrounding said water conduit,discharge nozzle means at the lower end of said conduit means in uidcommunication with said water and air conduits and adapted for theforceful ejection of a stream of aerated water therefrom, said airconduit having openings at the upper end thereof providing air inletmeans for said air conduit, an air shutter movable on said air conduitrelative to said openings for adjusting the air intake to said airconduit, a resilient washer mounted at the upper end of said conduitmeans, and means for clamping said resilient washer into engagement withthe water faucet, said clamping means comprising an apertured supportmember adapted for securement to the bathtub, a threaded member providedat the lower end of said conduit means and bodily movable in theaperture of said support member, and a clamping member threadedlyengaged on said threaded member and in engagement with said supportmember whereby the rotation of said clamping member in a clampingdirection is effective to elevate said conduit means relative to saidsupport member to clamp said resilient washer into engagement with thewater faucet against the pressure of the water ow through the latter,said clamping member and Isaid support member having cooperatingprovisions defining a universal joint to facilitate the registry of saidresilient washer with the water faucet.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS642,489 Pyke Jan. 30, 1900 840,956 Pride Ian. 8, 1907 964,731 AckermanJuly 19, 1910 988,345 Irgens Apr. 4, 1911 1,982,258 Martin Nov. 27, 19341,983,600 Christie Dec. 11, 1934 2,009,398 Green July 30, 1935 2,091,167Solley Aug. 24, 1937 2,198,510 Carey Apr. 23, 1940 2,210,846 AghnidesAug. 6, 1940 2,247,031 Norton June 24, 1941 2,336,127 Rocke Dec. 7, 19432,496,525 Eggleston Feb. 7, 1950 2,535,092 Rettinger Dec. 26, 1950FOREIGN PATENTS 19,122 Great Britain Oct. 11, 1895

